spinteews

ok, i finally had a chance to go out and just buy some wax and wash and wax my car.

i used Zymol... not sure if i used to correctly, but heres the outcome.

spinteews

as you can see i'm currently sporting the clublexus sticker

spinteews

i like it... but i'm not all too satisified...

i feel a imcompleteness after waxing my car... I dont see the shine i would want hehe and its not SUPER SMOOTH.

my friend gave me this web page for TIPS on waxing... its a 4runner

http://candidotapia.tripod.com/trdrunner/id14.html

and now i want my car like that!!!

i think i'm gonna go find a Porter Cable Random Orbit Polisher. Anyone know where i can get a good price on that?

best i found was around $130. highest is $200...

but ya, thast very nice compared to my zymol hand work lol

NVMYGS3

Looks nice from where I"m standing.

DOn't use a buffer. I have a buffer and never use it. Just hand wax, the liquid stuff goes on easily and taking it off using a buffer results in some rework and I'm no pro and when I use the buffer, it hazes the blastic black columns next to the windows and stuff. Plus, the door moldings with the buffer get all jammed up with wax and it's hard to get out.

RYan

Likecars

My dad is going to try Zaino on their Mill. edition. I let you know how it looks.

You'll find a wealth of info with the link genearch posted.

Search Klasse and Zaino.

mooretorque

I use Zaino on my MilSil GS and my wife's white RX. It is the easiest stuff to remove that I've ever used (and I do it by hand). The results make the car's paint seem as if somehow lighted internally. Even my non-dearhead wife (who nonetheless is very ticky and obsessive about keeping her car cleaned and waxed) could tell I'd done something way different from what I'd done before, even though I didn't tell her I'd waxed her ride.

spinteews

Thanks for info... so which is better? shoudl i got with Griots stuff or Zaino?

also, hand or buffer?

also if i go with one of those brands... which products would i need??

i thought it was claybar, wax, and polisher??

Likecars

My experience is with Klasse, Zaino, Black Fire, various Mequiars products. Have not tried Griots.

If you'd like a recommendation:

1. Dawn wash to remove other products.
2. Usually here you'd do some swirl removal work if required. 2001, hopefully you do not have any big problems here.
3. Clay - Mothers or clay Magic work great

In comes Zaino

4. Wash with Z7
5. Z5 w/ ZFX
6 Next day or next opportunity Z2 w/ ZFX

One extemely shiney Lexus and super slick.

The Z link for details:

http://www.zainobros.com/

I'd be glad to post more should you go this way.

As far as the Porter cable:
http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/S...4b6+1022443263

I bought mine here. Yahoo shopping will bring up a bunch.

Z works fine by hand, I like applying it with the PC. Removing it by hand.

For the PC you'll want a 6" velcro plate and grey finishing pads. You won't use the pad that comes with it.

LexRX

Mike, I do the process that Likecars described using my Zaino. Except I usually only do one coat of Z2 since I keep my RX cleaned regularly. That will absolutely give you the smooth feel you want. I have to rub my hand accross the fender everytime I go by when I finish Obsess much? Yes.

Your RX is looking clean. With silver, tan, and colors like it you won't get the shine you work so hard for with a darker color.

Likecars

Yep, Blitz is good stuff too. I wouldn't go as far as saying the best!

garnet92

LexRX made an important point – with lighter colors (like your silver and my white) you won’t get the return for your investment in time/money that a darker color would yield.

When I first tried Zaino, I had a Garnet Red SC400. Zaino made that beauty glisten – better than anything else I tried – a noticeable improvement over the Meguiars I’d been using. When I bought the GS, naturally I continued with the Zaino but with the Pearl White car, the color itself doesn’t provide the depth of shine that a black or other dark colored car will show. At least, I know that nothing else will make my white look better. Try Zaino.

My .35 cents worth.

spinteews

hrm ok... I think i might go with Zaino. If i do, then all i need is

Z7
Z5
ZFX
and Z2?

do you think i need claybar? or is one of those claybar?

btw, i have touch of class on my car, would it remove it? ??

also, i'm thinking i'll just use my hands... but are there any real advantages to that buffer machine?

LexRX

spinteews, Zaino's polishes are all you need to protect and shine, they replace using waxes.

Z-18 is the claybar, I recommend getting it. You don't have to buy Zaino's claybar. They also sell them at Pep Boys or some other auto parts store. I think Mother's has one.

Likecars

I think you will be happy with the Z.

Read up on the web site for the differences in the products.

Zfx is a new product you'll mix with Z2/Z5 for the initial application.

Z5 is for filling small swirls
Z2 would go on top of the 5, although they can be layered without any problems. I really have not seen a night and day difference between the two.

Previously Z1 would be applied as an initial base coat. I decided to go with the Zfx, a bit expensive initially, but will last a while. This takes the place of Z1 so it's one or the other.

The thing I didn't mention was the QD which is Z6, so an initial order might look like: 1 Z7 wash, 1 Z6 QD, 1 Z5, (if you love to detail and experiment get 1 Z2 as well, if not skip it) 1 Zfx.

You could probably use a claying by now, at least the flat surfaces, Mother's works just fine and is cheaper than Z-18.

Zaino will recommend one dawn wash prior to beginning the process, which should take care of any remaining TOC.

The only advantage to the PC is time and it does get thin coats down. If you haven't worked with a polymer type wax, it's a whole new mindset. You'll be putting on coats so thin it will be hard to see them. It will take a few trys to perfect it.

A sample process:

Dawn wash
Clay
Wash with Z7
Z5 with Zfx (typically 1 oz will get about 3 coats)
Z6 after last coat

Zaino recommends Z6 btwn each coat. You will use just a sprinkle of the Z6. A little goes a long way.

My weekly maint. is a Z7 wash and Z6 QD. I throw a coat of 5 or 2 every couple of weeks.